Read: Luke 1:39–45
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:41
Elizabeth is six months pregnant when her kinswoman, or relative (Greek word, syngenis, possibly a cousin), Mary, visits her. It is assumed that Mary is pregnant at this point as she makes the journey to where Elizabeth lives in the hill country of Judea.
Friendship between close friends is special. The bond between family members can be even more precious. Imagine the closeness these two might now feel with both of them becoming pregnant by miraculous means. Despite being separated geographically and by age, they have perhaps one of the most special connections of all time. And I’m sure that while Mary is inexperienced, she is of great help as her elder relative is now going through the final months of pregnancy—and doing so for the first time.
The once-barren and old Elizabeth is well into her pregnancy with the prophesied forerunner of the Messiah. Mary hasn’t consummated her marriage with Joseph yet, but is supernaturally pregnant with the Son of God. Wouldn’t you have loved to sit down for coffee with them and talk about these things!
Anyone who has had children through natural means has felt the developing baby move and kick. It’s a special moment to lay your hand on mommy’s growing belly and feel the life of another just underneath. The Greek word used in today’s passage for baby is brephos, which does not mean fetus, but baby. God declares the developing life a baby. So should we.
The conversation we are blessed to read about occurs when Mary first arrives at Zechariah and Elizabeth’s house. At the moment of Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth, John “leaped [for joy] in her womb” and Elizabeth feels the Holy Spirit move in her as well. We also know from Gabriel that John is filled with the Holy Spirit while still in the womb (Luke 1:15). On a side note, it is worth studying the role of the Holy Spirit in both Luke’s Gospel account and in Acts, as He is greatly magnified in both.
Elizabeth shares a blessing with Mary for being chosen to bear Christos, and Mary responds with humility and wonder. We see this exchange end with proof that Mary believes by faith that what God tells her through Gabriel is true: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
We’ll look at Mary’s song of praise tomorrow, but I want to return to this issue of special friendships, be they with family or friends. This story demonstrates the necessity and great benefits that come when believers have an ongoing, strong bond with one another.
Proverbs gives us some timely advice on the matter. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (17:17). “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (18:24). “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (27:17).
If you have these types of relationships, praise God for the special people in your life today. If you don’t have them, pray that God will connect you to people of such character. Doing life with these kinds of people will make a huge difference in your faith walk.
